At a press conference concerning drugs, Health Minister Mars di Bartolomeo made his second attempt in his fight to bring the total smoking ban in Luxembourg up to date and emphasised its enormous importance. Bartolomeo  wants to ensure that the smoking ban will be extended to restaurants bars, cafes and nightclubs.

The government program for the current legislative period is already well established in the Grand Duchy and a partial smoking ban has been effective to provide better protection, however  Mars di Bartolomeo is campaigning to take the step to total ban that many European countries have adopted.

Smoke: total or partial ban? Europe unable to decide

With the rising price of a pack of cigarettes since Monday in France, the issue of tobacco control returns to the forefront of European policies. With some countries advocating a daily 100% smoke-free environment and others who prefer not to encroach on individual liberties, it seems that Europe's image of France and Luxembourg is suffocating under the diverse views.

With real constraint and willingness to meet some recommendations from the European Council, one third of member states have passed legislation Control. However now, every country has their own slant on these legislations.

Our French neighbours have lived practically without tobacco in public places since 1 January 2008. They said goodbye to smoke in public places (schools, hospitals, workplace ....) and you will  not see a cigarette in restaurants, pubs and nightclubs. To respect the freedom of French smokers, however, the law allows schools to develop a smoking room closed and well insulated.

This strict law regarded by some as "freedom" was not followed everywhere. In Luxembourg, the government considered the issue two years earlier (September 2006) and preferred  a “gentle” but effective approach. Bars and discos have been saved by the smoking ban to the chagrin of the President of the Luxembourg Foundation against cancer, Marie-Paule Prost-Heinisch. "This is not a ban that prohibits smoking in these places. Professionals who work there  are the most affected by passive smoking "protested Ms. Prost-Heinisch.

The European Commission recognises this problem and even said last June that "the hospitality workers (workers in hotels, bars and restaurants) are the occupational group most vulnerable due to the incomplete protection provided in the majority of Member States".

For their part, managers of pubs or bars Luxembourg do not seem to complain and have adapted to not obstruct smokers or non-smokers. "A year ago we increased the capacity of smoke extraction with a more powerful motor in our system. On weekdays, this is quite sufficient. After the big evening for the weekend it is different", said a bar owner,  one of a group of people who consider that, "Luxembourg individual freedom is still well respected." An opinion shared by several customers, one of which was quoted as saying:  "I think we should respect people. If there are smokers, they must be respected. We must also respect non-smokers, that gives choices to all of us".

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